Cross-Species Comparison of Genes Related to Nutrient Sensing Mechanisms Expressed along the Intestine
article
Introduction: Intestinal chemosensory receptors and transporters are able to detect food-derived molecules and are
involved in the modulation of gut hormone release. Gut hormones play an important role in the regulation of food intake
and the control of gastrointestinal functioning. This mechanism is often referred to as ‘‘nutrient sensing’’. Knowledge of the
distribution of chemosensors along the intestinal tract is important to gain insight in nutrient detection and sensing, both
pivotal processes for the regulation of food intake. However, most knowledge is derived from rodents, whereas studies in
man and pig are limited, and cross-species comparisons are lacking.
Aim: To characterize and compare intestinal expression patterns of genes related to nutrient sensing in mice, pigs and
humans.
Methods: Mucosal biopsy samples taken at six locations in human intestine (n = 40) were analyzed by qPCR. Intestinal
scrapings from 14 locations in pigs (n = 6) and from 10 locations in mice (n = 4) were analyzed by qPCR and microarray,
respectively. The gene expression of glucagon, cholecystokinin, peptide YY, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, taste receptor
T1R3, sodium/glucose cotransporter, peptide transporter-1, GPR120, taste receptor T1R1, GPR119 and GPR93 was
investigated. Partial least squares (PLS) modeling was used to compare the intestinal expression pattern between the three
species.
Results and conclusion: The studied genes were found to display specific expression patterns along the intestinal tract. PLS
analysis showed a high similarity between human, pig and mouse in the expression of genes related to nutrient sensing in
the distal ileum, and between human and pig in the colon. The gene expression pattern was most deviating between the
species in the proximal intestine. Our results give new insights in interspecies similarities and provide new leads for
translational research and models aiming to modulate food intake processes in man.
involved in the modulation of gut hormone release. Gut hormones play an important role in the regulation of food intake
and the control of gastrointestinal functioning. This mechanism is often referred to as ‘‘nutrient sensing’’. Knowledge of the
distribution of chemosensors along the intestinal tract is important to gain insight in nutrient detection and sensing, both
pivotal processes for the regulation of food intake. However, most knowledge is derived from rodents, whereas studies in
man and pig are limited, and cross-species comparisons are lacking.
Aim: To characterize and compare intestinal expression patterns of genes related to nutrient sensing in mice, pigs and
humans.
Methods: Mucosal biopsy samples taken at six locations in human intestine (n = 40) were analyzed by qPCR. Intestinal
scrapings from 14 locations in pigs (n = 6) and from 10 locations in mice (n = 4) were analyzed by qPCR and microarray,
respectively. The gene expression of glucagon, cholecystokinin, peptide YY, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor, taste receptor
T1R3, sodium/glucose cotransporter, peptide transporter-1, GPR120, taste receptor T1R1, GPR119 and GPR93 was
investigated. Partial least squares (PLS) modeling was used to compare the intestinal expression pattern between the three
species.
Results and conclusion: The studied genes were found to display specific expression patterns along the intestinal tract. PLS
analysis showed a high similarity between human, pig and mouse in the expression of genes related to nutrient sensing in
the distal ileum, and between human and pig in the colon. The gene expression pattern was most deviating between the
species in the proximal intestine. Our results give new insights in interspecies similarities and provide new leads for
translational research and models aiming to modulate food intake processes in man.
TNO Identifier
525859
Source
PLOS One, 9(September), pp. 1-9.
Article nr.
e107531
Pages
1-9